year, Bullet nose betty has had her nose removed for refurb and repairs. Many years ago, her numberboards were broken and missing allowing weather and birds to next inside the cone causing the steel on the lower cone badly corrode. We have contracted with a local special machine shop to undertake repairs and the nose cone should be back in a couple of weeks.

you mean the bulletnose was shot?



..... waiting ........

Not shot but it was getting pretty rough along the lower half. At some point years ago, someone had installed a metal patch on the lower half with machine screws and all that did was compound the problem. Our machine shop should have it restored back to original condition soon.

Well that attempt at making a funny went over like a Led Zeppelin. Some folks just don't get dry humor. I liked it!
Rob Sundberg

Sorry guys, sometimes humor fallson deaf ears as we take what we are doing very seriously. On second glance I see the joke and yes it was a very good one!

Bird shot, too!

Seems like perhaps a good opportunity to take a wire brush and some primer to the smokebox front?

I'd give it more than just primer...primer can hold moisture, but a nice sealing coat of paint over it would be a definite step towards slaying that monster we call corrosion., even if no one will see it for years after the nose is reinstalled.

Jeff

Thanks guys, yes the lower most corroded area has been cleaned off with needle scalers and the rest of it will be cleaned back to sound metal with wire wheels in a drill or grinder. We are using a anti corrosion primer on her and the front will be painted white as per original. Since that picture was taken, I removed the headlight for repair... Apparently at some point someone decided to install replacement hardware on the hinge and removed the bolts. They replaced these for some reason with a large turnbuckle that over time opening and closing, put pressure on the external light ring cracking it. We are hoping to get this welded and cleaned up and painted ready for installation.
If anyone knows a supplier of a new reflector we would like to hear from them. Ours was broken many years ago and currently there is only silver paint inside.

My skunk at the picnic contribution. With a decent headlight bracket/number plate, I would like it better without the "Madonna" look. That's just me. Were they ever without their half bra?
Heading for cover.

Yes, actually, at one time, some of the "bullet nose Betty's" ran as just plain old "Betty". I prefer the coned face. Beautiful locomotives, these. I just wish somebody could kick the board of directors of CNR in the knees, and get them running a heritage locomotive once more.

Her headlight has now been removed for repair as well. She looks a bit sad on the front end right now but she will be all complete and buttoned back up before the snow flies!

Update, the smokebox front has been cleaned back to good steel and primed and Painted. Number board light fittings removed for repair.

For the headlight reflector, you could use a metal salad bowl, polished down. I've got several I'd let you use but they might not be the right size, and I have dough rising in one at the moment.

He has already done just that. Peter posted this the other day.... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32330